A request to double the size of Mt. Hope Cemetery has upset neighbors who don't want to see double the nuisances they say the business already creates.
The residents, most of whom live on Glenn Canyon Court west of the 5.4-acre cemetery, complained about noise, fire and flood-control issues. Most say they also don't want their home to overlook a sea of tombstones.
The owner, Morgan Hill Funeral Home, Inc., is requesting to expand south and west to a total 11 acres. Expansion was part of the site's 1998 conditional use permit, which has since expired. It would be
"The back of our house faces the cemetery and when I am in my office, I am at eye level with the funeral participants," Ricardo Rivera said, addressing the Morgan Hill Planning Commission on July 22. He said he'd like to see higher fences along with the 10-foot setback from funeral plots that are already in the plans. Rivera said he can't host any backyard events because of the view.
Ted LeCap agreed.
"Watching a funeral and having a pool party is a little bit disturbing," LeCap said.
LeCap's biggest problem, though, is the water runoff he experiences.
"During the winter, the road paved on my side takes on a lot of water, and we have to take it out," LeCap said.
Trash, too, is a problem for him.
"I fill up my trash can with their trash," he said, adding that wind blows leaves and other miscellany onto his property.
Neighbor Scott Murcray had concerns about the graveyard's visitors.
"The fence is down so we have had people access the property who do not need to be there," Murcray said. "We certainly have quality of neighborhood concerns as to what the future might bring."
Murcray thought the 10-foot setback requirement wasn't a big enough buffer, even with flat grave markers.
"I'd like to see setbacks more in the 50 foot range," he said.
Farokh Deboo said he and his neighbors are "very interested in having a dialogue with the cemetery owners" about all these concerns, and more. Deboo doesn't want to see any tall trees or shrubs, as they would disrupt he and his wife's mountain and valley views. Their view is already obstructed by a 12-foot tall mausoleum, he said.
"Yes, I know the cemetery needs to do business, and I don't want to get in the way of them being financially viable," he said. "But we feel the current cemetery has not been maintained and handled properly and we are concerned about what we will see when (the cemetery) is right next door. These are the same people who can't maintain what they have so we have very little confidence."
Since no representative from Morgan Hill Funeral Home was present at the planning commission meeting, the request was tabled until its next meeting Sept. 9.
The site is open during daylight hours, seven days a week, according to the staff report. The owners report an average 15 visits a day.
Natalie Everett Natalie Everett covers education and city issues for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.
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